Biologically pure culture of Streptomyces majorciensis Labeda

ABSTRACT

This disclosure describes four new antibacterial agents designated LL-C08078α 1 , LL-C08078α 2 , LL-C08078α 3  and LL-C08078β produced in a microbiological fermentation under controlled conditions using a new strain of a new species of the genus Streptomyces called Streptomyces majorciensis Labeda, sp. nov., and mutants thereof. These new antibacterial agents are active against a variety of microorganisms and thus are useful in inhibiting the growth of such bacteria wherever they may be found. In addition, these agents are active as growth promotants in warm-blooded animals.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 507,184 filed June 23, 1983.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to four new antibacterial agents designated LL-C08078α₁, LL-C08078α₂, LL-C08078α₃ and LL-C08078β; to their production by fermentation, to methods for their recovery and concentration from crude solutions and to processes for their purification. The present invention includes within its scope the antibacterial agents in dilute forms, as crude concentrates and in pure crystalline forms. The effects of the new antibacterial agents on specific microorganisms, together with their chemical and physical properties, differentiate them from previously described antibacterial agents.

The molecular structure of these antibacterial agents is unknown at the present time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The new antibacterial agents designated LL-C08078α₁, LL-C08078α₂, LL-C08078α₃ and LL-C08078β are formed during the cultivation under controlled conditions of a new strain of a new species of Streptomyces named Streptomyces majorciensis Labeda, sp. nov. This new antibiotic producing strain is maintained in the culture collection of the Lederle Laboratories Division, American Cyanamid Company, Pearl River, N.Y. as culture number LL-C08078. A viable culture of the new microorganism has been deposited with the Patent Culture Collection, Fermentation Laboratory, Northern Regional Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Peoria, Ill., and has been added to its permanent collection. It is freely available to the public from this depository under its accession number NRRL 15167.

The new antibiotics LL-C08078α₁ and LL-C08078β have now been discovered to be members of the Aurodox family of antibiotics [Can. J. Chem., 58: 501-526 (1980)] but are the only members other than antibiotic A40A (U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,407) that contain a tetraene as a part of the chromophore. LL-C08078α₁ and A40A have optical rotations of opposite sign and differ significantly in their ¹³ C NMR spectra in the 95-115 ppm region when the spectra are run in methanol. LL-C08078β shows a significant difference from A40A in optical rotation and has a ¹³ C NMR spectrum very similar to LL-C08078α₁.

The following is a comparison of Aurodox, LL-C08078α₁ and LL-C08078β ¹³ C NMR chemical shifts. The ¹³ C NMR spectra (20 MHz) of the antibiotics in the free acid form were run in DMSO-d₆ with tetramethylsilane (TMS) as an internal reference. Peak positions are given below in parts per million from TMS. Not all overlapping peaks are indicated for LL-C08078α₁ and LL-C08078β.

    ______________________________________                                         Aurodox     LL-C08078α.sub.1                                                                     LL-CO8078β                                        ______________________________________                                         195.6       195.2       195.2                                                  175.4       174.0       171.6                                                  163.0       163.2       163.2                                                  160.0       160.8       160.8                                                  139.9       140.4       140.5                                                  139.9       140.1       140.5                                                  139.7       140.1       140.1                                                  136.3       137.6       137.6                                                  135.6       135.7       135.7                                                  134.6       133.1       135.3                                                  130.9       132.7       --                                                     129.9       129.8       130.8                                                  129.9       129.8       130.1                                                  129.0       129.0       129.1                                                  128.3       128.1       128.2                                                  127.5       127.8       --                                                     126.0       126.0       126.0                                                  125.2       125.9       126.0                                                  124.6       125.1       124.9                                                  109.4       110.7       110.7                                                  99.4        97.9        97.4                                                   98.3        98.7        98.6                                                   89.0        87.7        87.8                                                   80.1        --          --                                                     79.2        --          --                                                     74.9        75.4        75.7                                                   72.7        --          --                                                     72.1        --          --                                                     71.3        71.0        71.0                                                   69.3        69.9        70.3                                                   --          67.3        67.4                                                   55.2        55.2        58.5                                                   49.2        55.4        55.5                                                   40.0        40.0        40.0                                                   38.1        38.6        38.8                                                   35.6        35.9        35.8                                                   34.5        35.2        35.2                                                   23.8        22.4        22.4                                                   19.3        20.2        19.5                                                   15.3        --          --                                                     12.8        13.0        13.1                                                   12.1        11.9        12.2                                                   11.4        11.8        11.8                                                   10.9        11.1        11.1                                                   10.6        10.5        10.5                                                   --          8.8         8.8                                                    ______________________________________                                    

Culture LL-C08078, which produced a novel antibiotic with rumen growth promotant activity, was isolated from a soil sample collected in Majorca, Spain. The culture was taxonomically characterized and was identified as a new species of the red-series Streptomyces to be known as Streptomyces majorciensis Labeda, sp. nov. Observations were made of the cultural, physiological and morphological features of the culture in accordance with methods detailed by E. B. Shirling and D. Gottlieb, Methods for characterization of Streptomyces species. Internat. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 16: 313-340 (1967). Media used in this study were selected from those recommended by T. G. Pridham, et al., A selection of media for maintenance and taxonomic study of Streptomycetes. Antibiotics Ann. pp. 947-953 (1956-57), for the taxonomic study of actinomycetes. Chemical composition of the cell walls of the culture was determined by using the method of H. A. Lechevalier, et al., Chemical composition as a criterion in the classification of Actinomycetes. Adv. Appl. Microbiol. 14: 47-72 (1971). Details are recorded in Tables I-IV, and a general description of the culture is given below. Underscored descriptive colors are taken from K. L. Kelly and D. B. Judd, Color. Universal Language and Dictionary of Names. Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.) Spec. Publ. 440, Washington, D.C. (1976) and the accompanying Inter-Society Color Council, Nat. Bur. Stand. Centroid Color Charts.

MICROMORPHOLOGY

Spores are formed in long straight chains (Rectus flexibilis) on aerial sporophores. The spores are phlangiform (0.8-0.9 micron by 1.3-1.4 micron) and the surface of the mature spores is smooth when observed by scanning electron microscopy.

CELL WALL COMPOSITION

Whole cell hydrolysates of this culture contain the L,L-isomer of diaminopimelic acid, placing it in the Type I cell wall group of Lechevalier, et al., (vide supra). This is typical of all Streptomyces species.

AMOUNT OF GROWTH

Good growth is observed on all media.

AERIAL MYCELIUM AND SPORE COLOR

Aerial mycelium is white; spore masses are pinkish gray shades, ranging from 10. pinkish gray to 8. grayish pink. Sporulation is heavy to very heavy, depending on the medium.

SOLUBLE PIGMENTS

Absent on many media; brownish shades where produced.

REVERSE COLOR

Yellow to yellowish brown shades on all media.

PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONS

Nitrates not reduced to nitrites; weak liquification of gelatin in 14 days; black pigment produced on peptone-yeast extract-iron agar but not on tyrosine medium in 7 days. Carbohydrate utilization as per the method of T. G. Pridham and D. Gottlieb, the utilization of carbon compounds by some Actinomycetales as an aid for species determination, J. Bacteriol. 56:107-114 (1948): good utilization of galactose, glucose, glycerol, maltose, mannose and trehalose; poor utilization of fructose and salicin; no utilization of adonitol, arabinose, dulcitol, inositol, lactose, mannitol, melezitose, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose, sorbitol, sucrose, xylose.

Culture LL-C08078 was compared with Streptomyces reference cultures from the aforesaid Lederle culture collection which are known to produce antibiotics of this class and a reference culture of the red-spored streptomycete group closest to this strain. The following observations were made of 14-day growth on yeast extract-malt extract agar:

    ______________________________________                                                      Spore Mass  Soluble  Reverse                                      Culture      Color       Pigments Color                                        ______________________________________                                         RC47 S. goldiensis                                                                          light gray  none     pale yellow                                  ATCC 21386                                                                     RC52 S. filipinensis                                                                        light gray  none     pale yellow                                  NRRL11044                                                                      RC97 S. xanthophaeus                                                                        no sporulation                                                                             none     yellowish                                    NRRLB5414                         white                                        LL-C08078 S. major-                                                                         pinkish gray                                                                               none     yellow brown                                 ciensis                                                                        ______________________________________                                    

Culture LL-C08078 resembles none of the Streptomyces species producing antibiotics of the mocimycin class. Moreover, it resembles no described species of the genus Streptomyces, and thus, based on the observations presented, a new species is proposed to be called Streptomyces majorciensis Labeda, sp. nov.

                                      TABLE I                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Cultural Characteristics of LL-C08078                                          Incubation: 14 Days                                                                             Temperature: 28° C.                                    Medium Amount of Growth                                                                         Aerial Mycelium and/or Spores                                                                     Soluble Pigment                                                                         Reverse color                     __________________________________________________________________________     Glycerol-                                                                             Good      Plicate growth with heavy                                                                         None     Pale yellow                       Asparagine                                                                            to        sporulation; spore mass 10. pinkish                           Agar   Moderate  gray.                                                         Hickey-                                                                               Good      Raised, mounded colonies; Sporulation                                                             Brownish Dark yellowish                    Tresner          heavy; spore masses 10. pinkish gray                                                                       brown                             Agar             with tufts of white aerial mycelia                            Inorganic                                                                             Good      Heavy sporulation; spore                                                                          Brownish Pale yellow                       Salts-Starch     mass 10. pinkish gray                                         Agar                                                                           Oatmeal                                                                               Good      Heavy sporulation; 10 pinkish                                                                     None     Pale yellow                       Agar             gray to 8. grayish pink;                                                       white tufts of aerial mycelia.                                Tomato Paste                                                                          Good      Very heavy sporulation on raised                                                                  Brownish --                                Oatmeal          colonies; spore mass 10. pinkish                              Agar             gray; scattered tufts of white aerial                                          mycelia.                                                      Yeast Extract                                                                         Good      Heavy sporulation; 10.                                                                            None     Strong yellowish                  Malt Extract     pinkish gray.               brown                             Agar                                                                           __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE II                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Micromorphology of LL-C08078                                                   Medium Aerial Mycelium and/or Sporiferous Structures                                                         Spore Shape                                                                           Spore Size                                                                             Spore Surface                     __________________________________________________________________________     Yeast Extract                                                                         Spore chains arise as straight chains from aerial                                                     phlangiform                                                                           0.8-0.9 micron                                                                         Smooth                            Malt Extract                                                                          sporophores (Rectus flexibilis)                                                                              ×                                   Agar                                 1.3-1.4 microns                           __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE III                                                        ______________________________________                                         Physiological Reactions of LL-C08078                                                   Incubation  Amount of Physiological                                    Medium  Period (Days)                                                                              Growth    Reaction                                         ______________________________________                                         Peptone -                                                                               7          Good      Blackening                                       Iron Agar                                                                              14          Good      Blackening                                       Tyrosine                                                                                7          Good      No pigment                                       Agar    14          Good      No pigment                                       Litmus   7          Good      Moderate proteolysis                             Milk    14          Good      Strong proteolysis                               Nutrient                                                                                7          Good      No proteolysis                                   Gelatin 14          Good      Weak proteolysis                                 Nitrate 14          Good      No reduction                                     Broth                                                                          Esculin  7          Good      Hydrolysis                                       Broth                                                                          Urea    14          Good      No hydrolysis                                    Broth                                                                          ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE IV                                                         ______________________________________                                         Carbon Source Utilization of LL-C08078                                         Incubation: 14 Days                                                                            Temperature: 28° C.                                     Carbon Source:  Utilization*                                                   ______________________________________                                         Adonitol        0                                                              l-Arabinose     0                                                              Dulcitol        0                                                              Fructose        1                                                              d-Galactose     3                                                              d-Glucose       3                                                              Glycerol        3                                                              i-Inositol      0                                                              Lactose         0                                                              Maltose         3                                                              Mannose         3                                                              d-Mannitol      0                                                              Melezitose      0                                                              Melibiose       0                                                              d-Raffinose     0                                                              l-Rhamnose      0                                                              Salicin         1                                                              Sorbitol        0                                                              Sucrose         0                                                              Trehalose       3                                                              Xylose          0                                                              Negative control                                                                               0                                                              ______________________________________                                          *3 = Good utilization                                                          2 = Fair utilization                                                           1 = Poor utilization                                                           0 = No utilization                                                       

It is to be understood that for the production of these new antibacterial agents, the present invention is not limited to this particular organism or to organisms fully answering the above growth and microscopic characteristics, which are given for illustrative purposes only. In fact, it is desired and intended to include in the term "Streptomyces majorciensis Labeda, sp. nov., NRRL 15167" the natural (spontaneous) mutants of this organism as well as induced mutants produced from this organism by various mutagenic means known to those skilled in the art, such as exposure to X-ray radiation, ultraviolet irradiation, nitrogen mustard, actinophages, nitrosamines and the like. It is also desired and intended to include inter- and intra-specific genetic recombinants produced by genetic techniques known to those skilled in the art, such as, for example, conjugation, transduction, and genetic engineering techniques.

The antibacterial agents were tested in vitro using a variety of gram-positive bacteria by the standard agar dilution procedure. The results are reported as minimal inhibitory concentrations (mcg/ml) in Table V.

                  TABLE V                                                          ______________________________________                                         In Vitro Anitbacterial Activity                                                           Minimal Inhibitory Conc. (mcg/ml)                                   Organism     LL-C08078α.sub.1                                                                    LL-C08078α.sub.3                                                                    LL-C08078β                             ______________________________________                                         Streptococcus                                                                                8          8          32                                         β-hemolytic C203                                                          Streptococcus                                                                               16         256         64                                         β-hemolytic 636TCR                                                        Streptococcus                                                                               16         256        128                                         β-hemolytic AGB                                                           Sarcina lutea PCI1001                                                                       128                   128                                         Corynebacterium                                                                             256        128        128                                         minutissimum                                                                   LL No. 151                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

These compounds are also active in vivo as evidenced by their effectiveness against lethal infections in warm-blooded animals. LL-C08078α₁ is active when administered subcutaneously to mice which have been infected with a lethal dose of Streptococcus pyogenes C203. The ED₅₀ for LL-C08078α₁ is 131 mg/kg of body weight.

These compounds are also active in vivo as growth promoting agents in warm-blooded animals.

Fermentation Process

Cultivation of Streptomyces majorciensis Labeda, sp. nov. NRRL 15167 may be carried out in a wide variety of liquid culture media. Media which are useful for the production of these novel antibacterial agents include an assimilable source of carbon such as starch, sugar, molasses, glycerol, etc.; an assimilable source of nitrogen such as protein, protein hydrolysate, polypeptides, amino acids, corn steep liquor, etc.; and inorganic anion and cation salts, such as potassium, sodium, ammonium, calcium, sulfate, carbonate, phosphate, chloride, etc. Trace elements such as boron, molybdenum, copper, etc., are supplied as impurities of other constituents of the media. Aeration in tanks, bottles and flasks is supplied by forcing sterile air through or onto the surface of the fermenting medium. Further agitation in tanks is provided by a mechanical impeller. An antifoaming agent such as lard oil or silicone defoamer may be added as needed.

Inoculum Preparation

Shaker flask inoculum of Streptomyces majorciensis Labeda, sp. nov. NRRL 15167 is prepared by inoculating 100 ml or 200 ml portions of sterile liquid medium in appropriate flasks with scrapings or washings of spores from an agar slant of the culture. The following is an example of a suitable medium:

    ______________________________________                                         Corn starch       1.2%                                                         Dextrose          0.6%                                                         Beef extract      0.3%                                                         Yeast extract     0.5%                                                         tryptone.sup.1    0.5%                                                         Calcium carbonate 0.2%                                                         Water qs          100%                                                         ______________________________________                                          [.sup.1 A peptone, registered trademark of Difco Laboratories, Detroit,        Michigan                                                                 

The pH is adjusted to 7.5 with an alkali metal hydroxide and the mixture is sterilized prior to inoculation.

These flasks are incubated at 25°-29° C., preferably 28° C. and agitated at 180 r.p.m. on a rotary shaker for 30-50 hours. This inoculum is then used to inoculate one liter or 12 liter batches of the same sterile inoculum at the rate of 100 ml per liter or 200 ml per 12 liters, in glass bottles. This bottle inoculum is aerated by a sterile air flow of 10-40 liters per minute while growth is continued at 25°-29° C., preferably 28° C., for 24-50 hours.

These bottle inocula are then used to inoculate 260 liters of the same sterile media in 300 liter tanks. The tank inoculum is grown at 25°-29° C., preferably 28° C., with sterile air flow of 100-200 liters per minute and agitation at 200-300 r.p.m. for 24-50 hours and then used to inoculate tank fermentors.

Tank Fermentation

For the production of these antibacterial agents in tank fermentors the following sterilized medium may be used:

    ______________________________________                                         Dextrin             5.0%                                                       Dextrose            0.5%                                                       Soy flour           3.5%                                                       Calcium carbonate   0.7%                                                       Cobalt chloride hexahydrate                                                                        0.00025%                                                   Water qs            100%                                                       ______________________________________                                    

Each tank is inoculated with 3-10% of the tank inoculum described above. Aeration is supplied at the rate of 0.2-0.8 liter of sterile air per liter of media per minute and the fermenting mash is agitated by an impeller driven at 100-200 r.p.m. The temperature is maintained at 25°-29° C., usually 28° C. and the fermentation is normally continued for 75-100 hours, at which time the mash is harvested.

This invention will be described in greater detail in conjunction with the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLE 1 Inoculum Preparation

A typical medium used to grow the primary inoculum was prepared according to the following formula:

    ______________________________________                                         Corn starch       1.2%                                                         Dextrose          0.6%                                                         Beef extract      0.3%                                                         Yeast Extract     0.5%                                                         tryptoneTM.       0.5%                                                         Calcium carbonate 0.2%                                                         Water qs          100%                                                         ______________________________________                                    

The pH was adjusted to 7.5 with 6N sodium hydroxide and the medium was sterilized at 121° C. for 15 minutes. A 100 ml portion of this sterile medium, in a flask, was inoculated with scrapings from an agar slant of the culture Streptomyces majorciensis Labeda, sp. nov. NRRL 15167. The medium was placed on a rotary shaker and agitated vigorously at 180 r.p.m. for 48 hours at 28° C.

The resulting primary inoculum was used to inoculate one liter of the same sterile medium in a 2-liter bottle, which was aerated with sterile air flow of 10 liters per minute and grown at 28° C. for 48 hours, providing secondary inoculum.

Two one-liter portions of this secondary inoculum were used to inoculate 260 liters of the same sterile medium in a 300-liter tank. This tank inoculum was grown at 28° C. with sterile air flow of 150 liters per minute and agitation by an impeller driven at 230 r.p.m. for 24 hours, providing tertiary (tank) inoculum.

EXAMPLE 2 Fermentation

A fermentation medium was prepared according to the following formula:

    ______________________________________                                         Dextrin             5.0%                                                       Dextrose            0.5%                                                       Soy flour           3.5%                                                       Calcium carbonate   0.7%                                                       Cobalt chloride hexahydrate                                                                        0.00025%                                                   Water qs            100%                                                       ______________________________________                                    

A 2800 liter portion of this medium was sterilized at 121° C. for 60 minutes and then inoculated with 260 liters of the tertiary inoculum described in Example 1. After sterilization, pH is 7.0. Aeration was supplied at the rate of 1650 liters of sterile air per minute and agitation was supplied by an impeller driven at 100 r.p.m. The temperature was maintained at 28° C. and the fermentation was terminated after 88 hours at which time the mash was harvested.

EXAMPLE 3 Preliminary Isolation of LL-C08078α₁, α₂, α₃ and β

A harvest mash, prepared as described in Example 2, comprising 2950 liters was extracted with 1125 liters of methylene chloride. The organic extract was then concentrated in vacuo to a residue, giving 767 g (Solid A). The remaining aqueous portion was reextracted with 1000 liters of fresh methylene chloride and this organic extract was concentrated in vacuo to a residue, giving 646 g (Solid B).

The solid (A) was suspended in a mixture of 2 parts ether and one part hexane and shaken gently. The mixture was allowed to separate and the liquid portion was removed by decantation. The residue was dissolved in methylene chloride and then concentrated in vacuo to a residue, giving 241 g (Solid C).

A harvest mash, prepared as described in Example 2, comprising 3000 liters, was extracted with 1200 liters of methylene chloride. The organic extract was concentrated in vacuo to a residue, giving 426 g (Solid D).

The solids B, C and D were combined (total weight 1313 g) and suspended in ether. This suspension was filtered and the solid was washed with ether and dried, giving 309 g of combined components LL-C08078α₁, α₂, α₃ and β.

EXAMPLE 4 Isolation of LL-C08078α₁

A glass column with a diameter of 3 inches was filled to a height of 20 inches with silica gel. A 12 g portion of the product of Example 3 was stirred with 100 ml of ethyl acetate, filtered and the filtrate allowed to seep into the column. The column was developed with 1.2 liters of ethyl acetate and then with ethyl acetate containing 5% of absolute ethanol. Fractions of 75 ml each were collected and monitored for activity by bioautography against B. cereus. Fractions 72-120 were combined and concentrated in vacuo, giving 2.311 g of a solid.

A glass column with a diameter of 9 inches was packed to a height of 20 inches with silica gel. A 218 g portion of the product of Example 3 was stirred with 2 liters of ethyl acetate, filtered and the filtrate allowed to seep into the column. The charge was washed in with 13 liters of fresh ethyl acetate and the column was then developed with ethyl acetate containing 8% ethanol. Fractions of 4 liters each were collected and checked for activity as described above, then the column was stripped with 50 liters of ethyl acetate:ethanol (8:12). Fractions 1 and 2 were saved for use in Example 5. Fractions 11-19 were combined and concentrated in vacuo to a yellow residue, weighing 24 g.

The above two solids were combined giving 26 g of LL-C08078α₁, having the following characteristics:

Elemental analysis: C, 65.95; H, 8.06; N, 3.21; O, 23.16; ##EQU1##

UV spectra as shown in FIG. I:

10 mcg/ml in methanol

10 mcg/ml in 0.1N HCl

10 mcg/ml in 0.1N NaOH;

An IR spectrum in kBr as shown in FIG. II;

A ¹³ C NMR Spectrum 20 MHz in d₆ DMSO with reference equivalent to internal TMS standard as shown in FIG. III;

A Proton NMR Spectrum 80 MHz in d₆ DMSO with internal TMS reference standard as shown in FIG. IV;

Molecular weight by mass spectroscopy 778.

EXAMPLE 5 Isolation of LL-C08078α₂ and α₃

A glass column with a diameter of 9 inches was packed to a height of 20 inches with silica gel. The fractions 1 and 2 (4 liters each) saved in Example 4 were combined and concentrated in vacuo, giving 42 g of an oily residue. This residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and charged on a silica gel column. The column was eluted with ethyl acetate, checking the fractions for activity by bioautography. Fractions 1-60 were combined and lyophilized giving 25.0 g of solid. This solid was dissolved in 20 ml of chloroform and allowed to seep into a 3/4 inch by 16 inch column of silica gel. The charge was washed in with 100 ml of chloroform and then the column was developed first with chloroform:acetone (4:1) (fractions 1-50) and then with chloroform:acetone (3:2). Fractions of 15 ml each were collected and checked for activity by bioautography.

Fractions 71-75 were combined and concentrated in vacuo to a residue which was lyophilized from t-butanol, giving 64 mg of LL-C08078α₃.

Fractions 79-84 were combined and concentrated in vacuo, giving 99 mg of LL-C08078α₂.

LL-C08078α₃ has the following characteristics:

Elemental analysis: C, 67.99; H, 8.60; N, 1.14;

[α]_(D) ²⁶ =-31°±5 (0.163% is methanol);

UV Spectra as shown in FIG. V:

10 mcg/ml in methanol

10 mcg/ml in 0.1N HCl

10 mcg/ml in 0.1N NaOH;

An IR spectrum in KBr as shown in FIG. VI;

A Proton NMR Spectrum 80 MHz in CDCl₃ with reference equivalent to internal TMS standard as shown in FIG. VII. LL-C08078α₂, has the following characteristics:

Elemental analysis: C, 65.02; H, 8.03; N, 1.54;

[α]_(D) ²⁶ =-32°±5 (0.280% in methanol);

UV Spectra as shown in FIG. VIII:

10 mcg/ml in methanol

10 mcg/ml in 0.1N HCl

10 mcg/ml in 0.1N NaOH;

An IR Spectrum in KBr as shown in FIG. IX;

A Proton NMR Spectrum 80 MHz in d₆ DMSO with reference equivalent to internal TMS standard as shown in FIG. X.

EXAMPLE 6 Isolation of LL-C08078β

A glass column with a diameter of 3 inches was filled to a height of 20 inches with silica gel. A 12 g portion of the product of Example 3 was stirred with 100 ml of ethyl acetate and filtered. The filtrate was allowed to seep into the column which was then developed first with 1.2 liters of ethyl acetate, then with ethyl acetate containing 5% absolute ethanol and collecting a total of 150 fractions of 75 ml each. The column was then stripped with ethyl acetate:methanol (1:1) and this strip was concentrated in vacuo, giving 1.733 g of solid. A 500 mg portion of this solid was dissolved in one ml of chloroform and allowed to seep into a 3/4 inch column packed to a height of 40 cm with silica gel. The charge was washed in with 25 ml of chloroform and the column was then developed with chloroform:acetone (1:1) collecting fractions of 20 ml each and monitoring for activity by bioautography. Fractions 13-22 were combined, desolventized and lyophilized, giving 320 mg of LL-C08078β, having the following characteristics:

Elemental analysis: C, 65.82; H, 7.92; N, 3.62; ##EQU2##

UV Spectra as shown in FIG. XI:

10 mcg/ml in methanol

10 mcg/ml in 0.1N HCl

10 mcg/ml in 0.1N NaOH;

An IR Spectrum in KBr as shown in FIG. XII;

A Proton NMR Spectrum 80 MHz in d₆ DMSO with reference equivalent to internal TMS standard as shown in FIG. XIII;

A ¹³ C NMR Spectrum 20 MHz in d₆ DMSO with reference equivalent to internal TMS standard as shown in FIG. XIV. 

We claim:
 1. A biologically pure culture of the microorganism Streptomyces majorciensis Labeda, sp. nov., having the identifying characteristics of NRRL 15167, said culture being capable of producing the antibiotic LL-C08078α₁, LL-C08078α₂, LL-C08078α₃ or LL-C08078β in recoverable quantity upon fermentation in an aqueous nutrient medium containing assimilable sources of carbon, nitrogen and inorganic anion and cation salts.
 2. The biologically pure culture of the microorganism Streptomyces majorciensis Labeda, sp. nov., according to claim 1, wherein said microorganism has spontaneously mutated such that the microorganism is genetically altered but still retains the ability to synthesize the antibiotic LL-C08078α₁, LL-C08078α₂, LL-C08078α₃ or LL-C08078β.
 3. The biologically pure culture of the microorganism Streptomyces majorciensis Labeda, sp. nov., according to claim 1, wherein said microorganism has been subjected to mutagenic means such that the microorganism is genetically altered but still retains the ability to synthesize the antibiotic LL-C08078α₁, LL-C08078α₂, LL-C08078α₃ or LL-C08078β. 